Ukulele Lessons & Aircraft Touch Tour Bring Music and Fun to Children With Visual Impairment

TORRANCE, California — Partners for Pediatric Vision (PPV) and Vistas for Children joined together to provide Notes Bring Hope free ukulele lessons on July 16, 2023, at the Torrance Airport community room.

Jr. Vistas volunteer, Colette, with PPV's Aliyah at the ukulele lesson

Volunteer musician Mark Fitchett of Fitchett Guitar School in Torrance introduced the ease and fun of playing ukulele with children who receive vision education and support services from Partners for Pediatric Vision. Vistas for Children coordinated the volunteer peers from Jr. Vistas who were paired with a child with vision loss. All the children took home their ukuleles to continue building their skills and playing for fun, thanks to Shari and Craig Sunada.

PPV's Zachary sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet

A short walk away, the Western Museum of Flight welcomed the children and families for an up-close experience with aircraft and space exploration. Volunteers led the children with visual impairment through experiences that included sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet and exploring engines, missiles, and model aircraft.

Children who receive services from Partners for Pediatric Vision learn experientially because of their vision loss. Hands-on opportunities like ukulele lessons and up-close museum tours are unique learning experiences and meaningful family events where parents of children with visual impairment can meet one another.

“Honestly, today was amazing. At birth, they gave us a worst-case scenario about Aliyah’s prognosis. We were told it would be very difficult if not impossible for her to do things like these. For her to be able to have these opportunities amongst kids going through the same thing, it is an amazing experience,” said Steven, father of 9-year-old Aliyah who has Optic Nerve Hypoplasia.